Do you think there'll be a long term effect of babies toddlers seeing humans in masks?

[waltzingparrot]

I've just queued in the co-op behind a mum with a baby of about 6/7 months over her shoulder. I was doing all that smiling and waving you do when you are faced by a very alert baby.

As I was wearing a mask it just occurred to me that all these babies are missing out the cues of smiles on strangers etc. Do you think it could have a long term effect?

It will be their normal, until we all unmask and then it could be frightening.

Hardly. They'll have seen faces before then.

No, that's a ridiculous assumption. The vast majority of time is spent in a family environment and families don't wear masks in those circumstances

Having a mother with chronic fatigue syndrome from Covid because too many were precious about wearing one is definitely more harmful to the child.

There's also evidence that wearing one lessens the viral load and so a less severe reaction.

Could do but only if you wore masks 24/7 and your child never sees you without one. Since that's hopefully pretty unlikely, the answer is 'no,'

My 3 yr old didn't want me to wear a mask out and about for about 3 days and then he was over it. Kids adapt very quickly, and babies I'd imagine even quicker.

DS isn't bothered by masks at all (6 months old) but I have noticed is far far more interested in what's going on when we go out compared to DD at that age. I'm convinced it's because he's spent most of his short life in lockdown and has only recently started seeing the world.